A/N: We're still on a roll today! This is the fourth update in a row. We're halfway through Chapter 47!

LORELEI

WAS THIS the first time that I rode in a police car? No. The last time I did, I was in a dangerous situation. Remember when we investigated the Twinkle, Twinkle Murders? The late rookie officer Bastien Montreal asked me to get inside the car so he could bring me to the abandoned school building. Doon niya ako balak na gawan nang masama. Lucky me, his plan was foiled by my friends, with the help of Sir Jim Morayta and the execom.

Kaya weird ang pakiramdam ko ngayon sa sasakyan ni Officer Gareth Estrada. Wala namang kakaiba sa structure o amoy nito. Sandaling sumagi sa isip ko ang mga nangyari ng gabing 'yon. I wish I wouldn't be put in the same situation again.

"Okay ka lang ba, Lori?" tanong ni Jamie. "Bakit parang malalim ang iniisip mo?"

I shook my head, trying to shrug off that memory. It's better left in the past. "Wala naman. May naalala lang ako."

"Baka bigla kang nagkaroon ng motion sickness?" sunod na tanong niya. Kumunot ang aking noo. "Gusto mo bang dumaan tayo sa drugstore at ibili ka namin ng gamot?"

I wanna thank her for her concern, but that was totally unnecessary. Lagi nga akong nakasakay sa kotse kapag hinahatid kami ni Alistair pauwi. Mahirap isipin na bigla akong mahihilo sa biyahe, unless may inilagay na pampatulog sa air-conditioner.

Nakaupo kaming tatlo nina Alistair at Jamie sa backseat ng kotse. Officer Estrada was driving the car, shooting me glances through the rearview mirror as Jamie made some random speculation. Guess who sat beside him in the passenger's seat?

"I didn't see my dad again today~" Malungkot na sabi ni Hel. Nakapangalumbaba siya sa car window at nakatulala sa labas. "Why is fate so cruel? Ayaw ba niyang magkita kami ulit? Or maybe my dad doesn't want to meet me again? Baka itinatakwil na niya ako~"

"My fist is way crueler than fate," Jamie whispered, clenching her right hand. "Napaka-OA ng babaeng 'to. Ilang araw pa lang silang hindi nagkikita, takwil na agad ang nasa isip niya?"

I kinda agree with Jamie. I doubt Loki thought of pushing her away. He's impressed with her deduction skills. He'd be more than happy to match wits with her again.

"He's just not feeling well," Alistair said, trying to soothe the sad girl. "Nagkataon lang na wala siya ngayong pumunta kayo sa Clark High. You'd be seeing him soon."

"Talagang dinibdib niya ang pagkamatay ni Margarette, 'no?" tanong ni Officer Estrada na napasulyap sa amin. "Hindi na ako magtataka. Halos ganyan din ang reaksyon niya nang mamatay ang dati niyang partner. Mas malala pa nga. Ilang araw o linggo yata siyang hindi pumasok noon. Nang muli ko siyang makita, parang malaki ang ipinagbago niya."

Loki hasn't shared much about how he managed to cope with Rhea's death. Kung gagamitin kong basis ang pagluluksa niya ngayon, mas matindi at mas masakit siguro ang naramdaman niya noon. We're talking about Rhea after all. The only person who he would have considered as friend back then. I could imagine him locking himself in his room, refusing to eat or take a bath.

Ang pagkakaiba lang siguro, may mga kaibigan na siya ngayon na handang tulungan siya na makabangon. Well, it's still up to him to get back to his feet. Kailangan siya mismo, gustuhin niya. But we'd be here to support him stand again and face whatever challenges await him.

"Sana, wala nang mawalang importante sa buhay niya," may buntong-hiningang sabi ni Officer Estrada. "Maiko-compare mo siya sa yelo dahil sa pagiging malamig niya. Pero kapag ilang beses mo siyang inihampas sa pader, mababasag siya at magkakapira-piraso."

I agree. Every time he feels hurt, the pain must be getting deeper into his heart. I don't want myself to be the one to shatter his heart again. Well, I don't want any of us to be in that position. Kaya ngayong nalalapit na kami sa katotohanan, kailangan namin ng ibayong pag-iingat.

"Don't worry, officer!" masiglang tugon ni Jamie. "Paulit-ulit naming isti-cheer up si Loki dear hanggang sa magbalik siya sa dati. Ipararamdam naming nandito kami lagi para sa kanya!"

"I thought the Ephraim Quirino case would be enough to cheer him up," Hel commented. "Isn't he the type of person who gets excited when he sees an incomplete puzzle in front of him? That's what the officer told me when they used to work together. I guess I was wrong~"

"Loki is still human," Alistair replied. "He may have eccentric views in life, but that doesn't make him immune from feeling the emotions that you can expect from someone who experienced loss or regret. Gano'n ka rin, 'di ba?"

Ilang segundong natahimik si Hel. Napatingin kaming dalawa ni Jamie sa kanya, hinihintay ang kanyang sagot. "Not really~ All I care about is my mission to give justice to the dead. I don't let my emotions get the better of me."

Mag-ama man ang dalawa, dito sila nagkakaiba. Maybe Hel was too young to realize how the world works. Gaano na ba siya katanda? Base sa suot niyang uniform nang pumuslit siya sa campus namin, mukhang high school student din siya.

"Maybe it has something to do with the fact that I spend more time with spirits than humans," Hel went on, looking out of the car window. "My dad has human friends. You can make him feel the warmth of friendship. You can influence how he views life. Me? All I hear are the sorrows and regrets of the dead. Kinda lonely way to live, but I already got used to it."

"Napaka-depressing naman ng story niya," bulong ni Jamie. "Kung sanang 'di niya tinatawag na dad si Loki dear, baka i-consider ko pa siya na maging friend. Kasalanan din niya kung wala siyang human friends. Bida-bida kasi siya minsan."

I nudged her with my elbow. Medyo sobra naman ang sinabi niya.

"Speaking of spirits, I hope you don't mind if my friend rides with us," Hel said, twisting in her seat to face us. "She's seated between Lorelei and Jamie. Oh, look! She's waving at you!"

Biglang tumayo ang mga balahibo ko nang mapatingin siya sa space sa pagitan namin ni Jamie. Hindi ko man nakikita kung ano ang itinuturo o nakikita niya, nai-imagine kong may invisible kaming katabi.

"Gusto mo bang i-wave ko 'tong kamay ko sa mukha mo?" palaban na sagot ni Jamie. "Nananakot ka lang, eh! May spirits-spirits ka pang nalalaman diyan. Kakabasa mo 'yan ng horror story. If you wanna scare the Jamie Santiago, try harder."

"But I'm not lying or trying to scare you~" Hel said in a singsong tone. Muli niyang ibinalik sa harapan ang kanyang atensyon. "Don't you feel something cold brushing your arm? Don't you feel as if someone's breathing in your ear?"

"HEL!" bulyaw ni Officer Estrada. Namumutla ang mukha niya at paulit-ulit na sumusulyap sa upuan namin. "'Di ba sabi ko sa 'yo, huwag kang magbanggit ng espiritu-espiritu na 'yan? Gusto mo ba akong atakihin sa puso?"

"Pasensya na, officer~" tugon ni Hel. "Gusto ko lang i-acknowledge ang presence ng kasama natin. Ang pangit kasi sa pakiramdam niya kung i-ignore natin siya. Spirits still have feelings."

I rubbed my palms on my arms, trying to fight the goosebumps all over my body. Dahil sa mga sinabi niya kanina, parang meron ngang malamig na hanging dumarampi sa balat ko. Parang meron ding bumubulong sa tenga ko. This must be the magic of her words.

Maging si Jamie ay nangingilabot na rin. Si Alistair naman, chill lang na nakaupo sa kanyang puwesto. Nasa gilid kasi siya at malayo sa space na tiningnan ni Hel kanina. Kung pwede lang makipagpalit ng upuan sa kanya, ginawa ko na.

"Baka 'yan din ang espiritung nakisabay sa atin noong papunta tayo sa Pax et Lumen Memorial Park?" tanong ni Officer Estrada. "Ang akala ko ba hindi siya mag-i-stay rito?"

"Iba naman ho itong kasama natin," sagot ni Hel sabay sulyap sa rearview mirror. She wasn't looking at me or Jamie. She was staring at the space between us. "Nakiki-roadtrip lang siya kasama natin kasi nabo-bore siya. Bababa rin siya kapag dumating na tayo sa station."

Hindi ko na masabi kung pinagti-trip-an na kami ng babaeng 'to o meron talagang espiritu sa tabi namin. Alam kong may mga bagay na hindi maipaliwanag sa mundo. I couldn't invalidate her claims that she could talk to the dead. Loki would surely find that gimmick as absurd. After all, he doesn't believe in ghost or anything paranormal.

We had to endure the trip thinking that there might be a ghost between me and Jamie. Natahimik kaming dalawa at pilit na nilalabanan ang pangingilabot namin. I was starting to think that Hel was right because I felt a cold breeze behind my nape now and then.

Pagkahinto ng police car sa tapat ng station, nagmadali kaming bumaba ni Jamie sa sasakyan. Doon na tuluyang nawala ang paninindig ng mga balahibo namin.

"The spirit sends her thanks!" Hel told us. "She enjoyed the car ride."

Pumasok na kami sa loob ng police station. Hinarangan kami ng guwardiya na nasa front desk, pero kinausap siya agad ni Office Estrada. He had no choice but to let us in.

Compared sa campus police headquarters, mas malaki at malawak ang police station na 'to. May mga hilera ng desk kung saan busy ang mga police officer sa pagsagot ng tawag o pagkuha ng statement mula sa mga tao. Medyo makalat din ang kanilang mga mesa.

Officer Estrada led us to a dark room. Sinindi niya ang ilaw para lumiwanag sa loob. I noticed a wide glass panel on the wall that allowed us to see what's inside the room in front of us. Sa kabilang kuwarto, may mga linya kung saan may nakasulat na height measurement.

"May nahuli kaming apat na persons of interest na nagma-match sa descriptions na ibinigay n'yo sa amin," sabi niya. "Dahil kayo ang mga witness, gusto naming tulungan n'yo kaming i-identify kung sino sa kanila ang tumutugma sa suspect na nakita n'yo noong gabing pinatay si Ephraim Quirino."

"Naintindihan po namin, sir." We all nodded.

May pinindot si Officer Estrada na button sa pader. He leaned his mouth closer to a rectangular device on it. That must be a wall-mounted microphone. "Papasukin n'yo na sila."

I gulped as the door swung open. Makikilala na ba namin sa wakas kung sino ang third party? Kakilala ba namin siya? Nakita na ba namin ang mukha niya? Was he someone who really knew me personally?

To my surprise and disappointment, none of the four men who came in looked familiar to me. Tumingin ako kay Jamie para sa confirmation. If she'd seen any of them in school, she would have known. Umiling siya sa akin. Mukhang kahit siya'y walang namumukhaan sa apat na lalaki.

The four men lined up to the wall. Magkakaiba ang kanilang height, nasa six feet pataas. Iba-iba rin ang kanilang pangangatawan. May maskulado, may payat, may mataba. Sinuri ko ang kanilang damit. Pare-pareho nilang suot ang jacket ng sikat na courier service. Napatingin din ako sa kanilang mga sapatos. Pare-pareho rin ang pagkakatali ng mga sintas.

The police must have asked them to wear the same jacket and to tie their shoelaces that way. Baka may mag-match sa image na naka-embed sa aming memory.

"I don't want to cast any doubts in the abilities of the police, but how did you round them up that quick?" tanong ni Alistair.

"Oo nga!" dagdag ni Jamie. "Kakasabi lang namin kahapon ng mga description sa inyo tapos may mga person of interest na agad kayo?"

"Quite easy~" sagot ni Hel na sumandal sa pader at ipinagkrus ang kanyang mga braso. "While waiting for your witness testimonies, we already started reviewing the CCTV camera footages of the establishments near that street of the crime scene. We took note of everyone we caught on the camera. When you gave us the descriptions yesterday, we quickly eliminated those who do not fit the profile you told us. That's how we came up with four!"

Maybe if we talked to them sooner, they would have gathered these people earlier. Ang tanong ngayon ay kung nasa apat bang 'yan ang nakita namin noong gabing pinatay si Sir Ephraim.

"Ready na ba kayo?" Officer Estrada asked, to which we nodded. He once again pressed the button on the wall. Inilapit niya ang kanyang bibig dito. "Turn to your left."

Sabay-sabay na pumihit pakaliwa ang apat na lalaki. My eyes looked at each of them intently. Sinusubukan kong alalahanin kung sino sa kanila ang may body frame na tugma sa rider na nakita ko noon. Sa ngayon, nahihirapan akong mamili.

Lumapit si Jamie sa salamin para mas malapitan silang masuri. If there's someone who could exactly pinpoint who among the four matched the suspect's body description, that would be surely her. Dito namin mas mapakikinabangan ang kanyang retentive memory.

Alistair remained rooted in his spot, caressing his chin. His eyes set their scrutinizing gaze on the men's footwear. He saw the suspect's shoes from a close distance while he and Loki hid under the bed. With the four men having the same shoelaces, I wonder if he could still point out who's the closest.

"Turn to your right."

Pumihit pakanan ang apat na lalaki. I bit my nail as I kept my gaze at them. Sino ba sa kanila ang swak sa nakita ko noon?

Could it be the bald guy? Nagma-match ang height niya sa tangkad ng rider. Well, lahat naman sila, nasa six feet ang taas.

What if it's the skinny guy? Siya ang pinakamatangkad sa apat. Pero hindi naman yata gano'n katangkad ang rider.

"About-face."

How about the fat guy? No, his body frame was too large, he would have a hard time moving around. I wasn't body shaming him. I was merely stating a fact. Mas fit ang pangangatawan ng rider kaysa sa kanya.

Maybe it's the muscular guy? Mukhang tambay siya sa gym. Fit na fit sa suot niyang jacket ang kanyang muscles. Pero parang hindi naman gano'n ka-toned ang katawan ng rider.

Ugh! The more I look at them, lalong nadi-distort ang mental image ko sa misteryosong rider. He could be any one of them. They could fit his image if I think about it long enough.

"It's the bald guy!" sabi ni Jamie sabay turo sa lalaking kalbo. "Sigurado ako riyan! Walang sideburns ang lalaking kumatok noon sa pinto ng apartment ni Sir Ephraim!"

"I agree." Alistair nodded. "They may have the same shoelace pattern, but the size of their shoes differ. Mas maliit ang size na nakita ko noon. The bald guy's shoes matched the rider's."

I would have agreed as well, but I don't have anything to support it. Jamie could attest confidently because she saw that the rider didn't have sideburns. Alistair could also make that claim because he saw the rider's shoes in person. I guess I'm gonna leave it to them.

"Are you a hundred percent sure?" seryosong tanong ni Officer Estrada sa amin.

Tumango ang dalawa kaya nakisabay na rin ako. Kailangan kong magtiwala sa kanila. Kay Jamie pa lang, kahit minsan kahina-hinala siya, alam kong hindi kami ipahihiya ng matalas na memory niya.

"Thank you," Officer Estrada said over the wall-mounted microphone. "Everyone may not leave except the bald guy."

Lumabas na ng kuwarto ang tatlong lalaki habang pinaupo ang naiwan sa loob.

"I'm gonna trust your judgment~" sabi ni Hel sabay tapik sa mga likod namin. "We'll take it from here."

"Pwede na kayong umalis kung kailangan n'yo nang umuwi," sabi ni Officer Estrada sabay hawak sa doorknob. "Pero kung gusto n'yong hintaying matapos ang aming interrogation, pwede kayong maghintay sa lobby."

The three of us decided to stick around for a while. Curious din ako kung tama ba ang itinurong suspect nina Jamie at Alistair, at kung ang kalbong lalaki ba talaga ang third party. I don't think he's the one we're looking for, but he might be the link to whoever that person was.

If we're right, we would be one step closer to the truth.

Tumagal ang interrogation nang mahigit isang oras. Habang naghihintay kami, ilang beses na nag-selfie si Jamie sa may harapan ng station. Idinamay niya pa kaming dalawa ni Alistair sa groufie. Nang mapagod na siya sa kakakuha ng litrato, umupo na siya sa lobby at walang sawang nag-scroll sa kanyang social media feed. I also did the same to pass the time.

"Mukhang tama tayo, ah?" komento ni Jamie, nabaling ang tingin sa pinto ng interrogation room. "Kung mali kasi ang taong itinuro natin, dapat lumabas na sila agad sa kuwartong 'yon. The interrogation would have only lasted for five minutes!"

"That may be the case," Alistair said, also staring at the same door. "But I also hope na may makuha tayong mahalagang impormasyon mula sa suspect. I doubt he's the third party that we're looking for, but he might point us to that person."

My thoughts exactly. The third party sounded like he knew me and my friends very well. If that bald guy turned out to be that person, I'd be glad and disappointed at the same time. Masyadong anti-climactic ang gano'ng resolution. Honestly I don't think this would be the end of the investigation.

My shoulders jerked upwards when the door to the interrogation room opened. Officer Estrada came out with Hel following behind him. Mabilis kaming lumapit sa kanya. I could no longer maintain my anxiousness to know if we were right or if they found out anything.

"Looks like the case doesn't end here~" Hel said.

"What do you mean?" I asked.

"Umamin ang suspect na siya nga ang pumatay kay Ephraim Quirino," paliwanag ni Officer Estrada sabay pakita ng signed confession. "Pero hindi siya ang utak nito."

"Apparently, our culprit is a hired killer," Hel added. "He's been disguising himself as a courier rider to easily access the houses of his victims. What a clever strategy, I must say."

A hired killer, huh? Hel's right. Hindi nga rito nagtatapos ang kasong ito. Kailangan namin ngayong alamin kung sino ang nag-utos sa kanya na patayin si Sir Ephraim.

"Did he say anything about the person who hired him?" Alistair asked.

"They only communicated through burner phones," sagot ni Hel. "He said that his employer found him in a forum buried beneath the dark web. They never saw each other in person. They never talked through the phone. Only through text messages."

I clicked my tongue. So it's a dead end? Do we have to start over again?

"Did he confess kung bakit gustong ipapatay ng kanyang employer si Sir Ephraim?" tanong ni Jamie. Good question! "Kung malalaman natin ang motive ng mastermind, magkaka-idea tayo kung sino siya, tama?"

Umiling si Officer Estrada at napabuntong-hininga. "Bilang isang hired killer, hindi niya tinatanong sa nag-a-avail sa kanyang services kung bakit ipatutumba ang isang tao. All he cared about was the money. Kaya kung motibo sa pagpapapatay kay Ephraim Quirino ang usapan, wala tayong idea."

"I don't think so," Alistair commented, making us turn to him. "Sa tingin ko, may makukuha tayong hints sa katauhan ng mastermind base sa nalaman natin ngayon."

"Care to explain?"

"For instance, we know that the mastermind is a very cautious person. He went through lengths to hire an assassin and made sure that none of their communication could be traced back to him."

Naningkit ang mga mata ko at sandaling napatingin palayo. Why did that sound familiar?

"Now, let's ask ourselves," Alistair went on. "Why would someone go through the trouble of paying an assassin to kill a former high school instructor who's unemployed, financially challenged and living on his own?"

Why indeed?

"The hit-and-run incident..." I muttered, my eyes blinking.

Alistair nodded. "Remember? Sir Ephraim called the police to report that he had an idea about the person who ran over him. But he later on retracted that statement."

"So kung sinuman ang aksidenteng nakasagasa sa kanya, ayaw niyang lumabas ang issue na 'to," sabi ni Jamie na ibinaling muna ang tingin kay Alistair bago sa akin. "Kaya kinailangan niyang patahimikin si Sir Ephraim!"

"O baka sinadyang sagasaan si Sir Ephraim. Ang pagkakamali ng mastermind, may natandaang clue ang biktima tungkol sa nanagasa sa kanya," dugtong ni Alistair. "We can't rule out if the hit-and-run incident's really accidental or intentional, right?"

"Sabi ni Ephraim Quirino sa kanyang report, naglalakad lang daw siya sa gilid ng kalsada nang masagasaan siya," tugon ni Officer Estrada. "Kung totoo ang ini-report niya sa amin, posibleng intensyonal ang pagsagasa sa kanya."

"But why would someone run over him?" I asked. Wala naman sigurong tao na nasa tamang katinuan ang basta-basta mananagasa ng iba.

Ipinukol sa akin ni Alistair ang kanyang seryosong tingin. "Why? That's one of the questions. The other one: How could that person benefit from Sir Ephraim's accident?"

q.e.d.

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